The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-28
GENUINE RUSSIA IRON.
HOW Am American Discovered the Secret
Process by Which It Is Made.

Process by Which It Is Made.
A romantic story was developed by
the initial steps of building Russian
iron mill at Freeport. small town
thirty miles north of this city. The
towns people donated the site and
5000 to firm to build there. One OF
the firm related to the correspondent
the following story:
This will be the first Russian-iron
mill ever built outside of Siberia. An
imitation of Russia iron has been made
IN this country for some time, but it is
not impervious to rust. Impervious-
ness to rust ia the crucial test of genuine
Russia iron.
There is little history connected
with the Introduction of this industry
into America Few persons imagine
what a risk was run in learning the
secret of the treatment by which Russia
iron is made. There are but three peo-
pie outside of Russia to-day that know
this secret They are: Mr.. William
b. Rogers. his father, and his nephew.
the secret in this WAY:
About eighteen years ago he was
sent out as Pennsylvania State geologist
to Russia. He had credentials ad-
dressed to Ex-Governor Curtin, the
Minister at St. Petersburg at that time.
and was received with great pomp and
ceremony by Princess Demidoff, in
whoSe Siberian mines he was OStensibly
to carry on his geological investiga-
tions. The Princess attended him in
person on his long journey. FIVE hun
dred miles, into the Ural Mountains,
and treated the American geOlOgist
with all the imperial courtesy accorded
TO the most distinguished foreigner.
The Russian mobiles, too. took great
fancy to Mr.. Rogers, and insisted that
he should purchase Il few million acres
of land-in Siberia million acres is
but trife-and establish an American
colony. Mr.. Rogers said he hadn't the
money.
80, it won't take much, they said;
"a few million dollars would answer the
purpose.
The offer, however. was declined as
politely as possible. without letting the
nobleman know that it was altogether
possible for Pennsylvania State geol0-
gist 10 be as poor as the proyerbial
Jobs turkey.
LAS long as Mr.. Rogers confined his
explorations TO the mines he attracted
little or no suspicion, but rs soon as he
set foot inside the iron mills Of Princess
Demidoff he was subjected to the most
vigilant espionage. Unjust be remem-
bered that all the men in these mills
who know the secret of making Russian
iron are never allowed TO quit the mines.
1t is difficult for Americans to under
stand how this is. but to any one who
has seen the inside workings of such !
despOtic government rs Russia is, the
matter is perfectly plain. All who pass
to- and fro from Siberia are vised and
vised again at thousand different
points, and the slightest suspicion is
enough to warrant Il travellers deten-
ton.
"Onc day Mr. Rogers was making an
inspection of the iron mills, when he
overheard one of the foremcn say:
That's queer kind of "a gcolOgist.
/ have my suspicious about him.
'.Mr. Rogers was not long n making
his arrangem ents for bidding the de-
lectable land of Siberia a final farewell.
With the special study he had made of
iron-making before going to Russia. he
was not long in discovering the much
coveted secret. and came home delight
ed with his experience as A State gcolo-
.r,St u Pittshurnh DfSllntch